How to install Windows 7 pro (32bit) on Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop

I have just purchased Windows 7 Pro 32bit for my Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop and booted from the Windows 7 DVD. After a considerable time, the initial language selection screen opens but there's no mouse pointer to allow me to continue from this point. I tried re-booting from the DVD several times in case a driver had failed to load into ram, however the installation stops at that point as I cannot select anything. I tried every key on the keyboard and also tried plugging in a USB mouse to one of the USB ports and re-booting. Still not way to proceed without a mouse pointer.

I upgraded the ram to 4Gb and tested this on the previous OS (XP) and it was working fine. I have installed a new hard drive and was intending to let windows format and partition it for me, however I cannot proceed with the installation. I can only think that my Windows 7 DVD doesn't contain a mouse driver for this model, however I did check on various sites that Win 7 would install on my model and many people seem to have managed to do this. The disc and key cost £50 so I don't want to have to buy another one. So I installed from this disc onto my desktop PC and it installed with no problems, so the DVD must be OK (for my desktop at least).

I have installed many operating systems but this is a new one on me, I don't know how else I can get this OS onto my laptop, can anybody advise me please?

Thanks in advance.
Dave.

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

I was able to tab to the button named Next on that language selection screen. I was also able to change other items via the arrow keys once tab put the list in focus.

Do you see the focus change when tab is pressed? If not, then maybe the keyboard is not being recognized either.

Hello, thanks to all for your replies, much appreciated. Sadly I was unable to gain any control from the mouse or keyboard. I did try every key and re-loaded for all four USB ports with USB mouse, in case only one port was enabled.

I just tried again with Tab but sadly no response. I tried all the keys again one at a time but no response. I also tried another installation disc but the results were the same. I have installed from one of these discs on my desktop and it worked as they usually do, the mouse pointer is available to begin the selection of language etc, so I know the disc loads up a desktop PC with no problems.

I had XP installed on this laptop and when I installed that the mouse pointer was available so this must be related to drivers supplied on the disc not being available for the 1525. I know Dell don't support Win 7 on this model but I know a lot of people have installed to it without problems (I only read about a few wireless network problems due to driver issues).

My friend has just installed Win 7 Home Edition on his Dell laptop, but it's a Latitude D630, which is more recent than mine and he didn't have any problems. I don't think there's any benefit in trying the Home version disc, which would involve more expense. I don't think there's a laptop specific installation disc is there?

I did spend a lot of time on Google investigating before I purchased the Win 7 software and it seemed that a lot of people had installed it without any problems, so this doesn't make sense. I think that Microsoft only offered and SP1 edition of Windows 7 so others must have used the same software as me, perhaps they installed by another method.

Thanks for your efforts, I don't know what to do now unfortunately.
Best wishes to you,
Dave.

Have you tried doing the install with the original RAM? Could be a bad module.

First, thanks to everybody that replied. I have been working on this constantly and so was unable to connect to the forum.

I had first fitted two new 2Gb ram cards to replace the two 1Gb cards supplied by Dell, with the type Kingston 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 667 MHZ PC2-5300. These are stated in the user manual under memory specification. I checked on several suppliers site for ram for my model 1525 and they all pointed to these. However, there's confusion here as the manual states this ram and yet Dell's accessory page for the 1525 states DDR2-800 SODIMM 2RX8 Non-ECC. I had sadly paid £10 more for the slower speed cards recommended in their user manual.

I then fitted a new 750Gb Hard Drive (7,200rpm) to replace the fitted 160Gb slow spindle speed 5,400rpm
I booted to the Windows 7 DVD.
When the language selection screen came up there was no mouse or keyboard function.
I shut down and removed a ram card, leaving one 2Gb new ram in place.
I re-booted to DVD and the installation worked OK, with mouse and keyboard functions.
I shut down after full installation and replaced the other new 2Gb ram card (now full 4Gb capacity to spec)
I re-booted and Windows refused to start, advising a hardware change was to blame.
I run the recommended repair and the problem could not be resolved.
I removed one of the cards again and Windows booted up OK.
I run the new BIOS update from Dell's site " 1525_A17.EXE " by double click in Windows 7 and it installed.
I re-booted and Windows started OK.
I shut down and added the second ram card again and tried to re-boot Windows, but it would not.
I removed the second ram card and re-booted, however this time Windows was damaged.

This is what I did to make it work...

I checked BIOS A17 was correctly loaded by running a bootable USB Drive containing FreeDOS and 1525_A17.EXE. It reported that the same version was already installed, but I re-ran the .EXE anyway.

I removed both ram cards and replaced only the DIMMA, which is the top slot / connector on the MB pcb. This is mentioned in the service manual, however it is not possible to fit the bottom ram card in DIMMB location if the top ram card (DIMMA location) is fitted first (as per Dell's instructions). This isn't made clear. So for now, fit one new card to DIMMA (top) and carefully fold downwards and engage the edge clips. Leave the lower slot empty (DIMMB).

Boot to the Windows 7 DVD and install normally (mouse and KB functions OK).

Shut down Windows and release the clips on the top ram card DIMMA and hinge the card up very slightly, taking care that the edge / contact of the card maintain contact with the connector.

Carefully insert the second ram card in DIMMB (lower slot). This is tricky as the top ram card gets in the way! This is why I find Dell's instruction confusing - it's not possible to fit DIMMB (bottom card) if DIMMA (top card) is clipped in place correctly. Take care to insert the lower card into the lower connector correctly, use of a torch and some patience helps here! Once correctly located clip DIMMB into place, locating the edge clips.

Now carefully fold down DIMMA (top card) and clip the edge clips in place to secure. Check carefully that both cards are secured correctly.

Re-boot Windows. My system booted Windows 7 correctly and the full 4Gb ram upgrade was available according to System information.

Take care to select the correct ram cards, personally I wish I had know about this and I would have gone for the 800's. However, here I can only state that the 667 MHZ PC2-5300 worked in my machine.

I hope this works for "you" should you experience the same problems I did.

Thanks again to all members that tried to help me, I appreciate your efforts.
Best wishes,
Dave.

Thank you for taking the time to write up your findings...
...the info should help others